Freeman and Mitchell return for Saints’ trip to Sale Sharks

Tommy Freeman and Alex Mitchell make their return to Northampton Saints’ starting line-up this week, as the men in Black, Green and Gold travel to Sale Sharks on Friday (28 March, kick-off: 7.45pm). 

Northampton secured a 47-17 victory when the two sides met back in Round 5 of this season but hit the road in Round 13 to take on sixth-place Sale at Salford Stadium. It is a place they are without a win since a 32-12 bonus-point win back in 2017, and Northampton will be hoping to break that losing run if they are to if they are to keep pushing in the Premiership.

Freeman – who scored in all five of England’s matches during the Guinness Six Nations – starts on the wing for Northampton, while Mitchell makes his return at scrum-half for Saints after securing his 23rd cap for England during the competition. 

The duo mark two of seven changes made by director of rugby Phil Dowson for the clash, with Burger Odendaal also coming into Saints’ reshuffled backs and Chunya Munga, Alex Coles, Angus Scott-Young and Henry Pollock shifting into the starting line-up in the forwards. 

With fly-half Fin Smith taking his mandatory rest after his efforts during the Six Nations, Tom James joins scrum-half Mitchell in Saints’ half-backs this week to start in the No. 10 shirt for the first time in his Saints career. 

Fraser Dingwall captains Northampton once again this week, with incoming Odendaal joining him in Saints’ centres against Sale – while George Hendy shifts out to Northampton’s wing in Salford to join Freeman there and allow James Ramm to start at fullback.

Saints remain unchanged in the front row, with props Emmanuel Iyogun and Trevor Davison packing down with hooker Curtis Langdon there. 

Incoming locks Munga and Coles partner in Saints’ engine room against Sale, while flankers Josh Kemeny and Scott-Young join No. 8 Pollock in the back row to complete the pack. 

Saints opt for a six-two bench against Sharks, with the likes of Tarek Haffar, Juarno Augustus, Tom Pearson, Jonny Weimann and Tom Litchfield set to enter the action in Salford. 

SALE SHARKS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Gallagher Premiership, Round 13
Friday 28 March, 2025
Salford Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm

15 James Ramm
14 Tommy Freeman
13 Burger Odendaal
12 Fraser Dingwall (c)
11 George Hendy
10 Tom James
9 Alex Mitchell

1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Curtis Langdon
3 Trevor Davison
4 Chunya Munga
5 Alex Coles
6 Josh Kemeny
7 Angus Scott-Young
8 Henry Pollock

Replacements:
16 Henry Walker
17 Tarek Haffar
18 Luke Green
19 Temo Mayanavnaua
20 Juarno Augustus
21 Tom Pearson
22 Jonny Weimann
23 Tom Litchfield

Not available for selection:
Emeka Atuanya, George Furbank, Sam Graham, Rory Hutchinson, George Makepeace-Cubitt, Archie McParland, Toby Thame, Charlie Savala, Ollie Sleightholme, and Robbie Smith.

SALE TEAM TO FACE SAINTS: 
15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Rob du Preez (c), 12 Sam Bedlow, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr; 1 Bevan Rodd, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Asher Opoku-Fordjour 4 Ben Bamber, 5 Jonny Hill, 6 Ernst van Rhyn, 7 Tom Curry, 8 JL du Preez.   
Replacements: 16 Tadgh McElroy, 17 Si McIntyre, 18 WillGriff John, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Sam Dugdale, 21 Nye Thomas, 22 Will Addison, 23 Arron Reed. 

Referee: Hamish Smales
Assistant referees: Jack Makepeace and John Meredith
TMO: Stuart Terheege